Ozersay: “We will be present in all international platforms that we are given access to”

Ozersay: “In the past, we used to be represented in international meetings as the Turkish Muslim Community of Cyprus. It is important that now we are doing so as the Turkish Cypriot State. No one should be offended by this.”

Özersay calls upon EU: “We should at least be invited to EU Summit meetings”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay, stressed that as the government and the Turkish Cypriot side, they will be present in all international platforms that they are given access to, to express the positions of the Turkish Cypriot side.

Özersay said that the presence of Turkish Cypriots in international platforms is paramount in making their voices heard. He added that the EU – which has not treated the Turkish Cypriot people fairly in the past – should at least invite representatives of the Turkish Cypriot side to EU summit meetings.

Yesterday, Özersay attended the Organization for Islamic Cooperation Extraordinary Summit on Palestine in Istanbul where he took the floor to express the Turkish Cypriot people’s concerns regarding the recent events in Gaza.

Özersay reminded that in the past, the Turkish Cypriot people used to be invited to international platforms as the Turkish Muslim Community of Cyprus. He stressed that no one should be offended by the fact that now we are invited as the Turkish Cypriot State, which signifies the concept of statehood.

Speaking at Ercan Airport in Northern Cyprus about the Summit and the contacts he held, Özersay stated that he attended the Foreign Ministers meeting of the Summit and had the opportunity to share the Turkish Cypriot people’s concerns regarding recent events in Gaza.

Özersay stated that he had the opportunity to meet with both the Iranian President and the Jordanian King; held contacts with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan and his counterparts from some other counties; and also had brief meetings with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Turkish Prime Minster Binali Yıldırım.

Özersay conveyed that the TRNC was represented at the OIC’s Istanbul Summit as an observer and added that his government and the Turkish Cypriot people will be present in all international platforms that they are given access to.

Özersay said, “That is why we attend all international meetings organized by the OIC. We are determined to be present and make our voices heard in all international platforms.”

Minister Özersay:

“This is not solely in order to express our position on the Cyprus question. Regarding the various issues and developments around the world, as the Turkish Cypriot people we will share our views. Doing so is our obligation. Therefore, Turkish Cypriot side will be present and will make our presence felt, not only regarding the Cyprus question, but about the issues that the world is preoccupied with as well.”

Call upon EU: “We want to be heard”

Özersay added that he would also like to call upon the EU, “We believe that the EU – which hasn’t treated us fairly in the past – should at least invite us to EU summit meetings”.

Kudret Özersay said that if the Turkish Cypriot side are able attend OIC and ECO summit meetings and express her opinion on international issues, they should be able to do so over European issues as well.

Özersay, adding that it is a must that the EU should invite Turkish Cypriot representatives to EU summit meeting, spoke as follows: “Conditions have changed in the world. No one should see this call as an effort for status. Our concern here is much greater than any specific agenda or being recognized. We want to be heard. We also want to be listened to and I believe that the EU has an obligation to listen to the legitimate representatives of Turkish Cypriots and should not be afraid to do so.”

“UN Security Council’s calls do not reflect today’s realities”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay called attention to current events in Palestine and to those in Bosnia Herzegovina in the 1990’s, stating that these events demonstrate that the UN Security Council is an institution created in accordance with the results of the Second Word War.

Özersay underlined that the UN’s security mechanisms are geared towards the post-WWII era and that these mechanisms do not even properly address the Cold War era.

Kudret Özersay added that this mechanism may be easily deadlocked due to the fact that all five permanent members enjoy the right to veto and that this may lead to a lack of decision.

Özersay stated that the calls of the Greek Cypriot side for the UN Security Council to guarantee a post-solution structure in Cyprus, and for the security arrangements to be organized within this framework, are not in line with today’s realities. He added that the UN Security Council has turned into a security mechanism that is not able to address the evolving conditions and current needs of the world.

Özersay: “This also applies to security arrangements within the EU. The events in Palestine have once again demonstrated the gravity of this situation.”

“We will not abandon universal values simply because Palestine is more inclined towards the Greek Cypriot side”

Özersay added that Palestine and its authorities usually distance themselves from Turkish Cypriot positions and side with those of the Greek Cypriot side, and, “yet, I would like everyone to know that just because this is the case, we will not abandon universal values. If, today, the Palestinian people are under duress, their legitimate rights are violated, human rights are violated, then the Turkish Cypriot people will demonstrate their will, stance and views regarding this situation. This should not pose an offense to anyone. Various positions may be adopted within the framework of foreign policies but this is no reason for us to abandon universal values”.

Özersay:

“One would wish Palestine to adopt an unbiased approach which listens to the voice and positions of the Turkish Cypriots. Our expectation is that in the future, Palestinian officials will enter into a dialogue with us to listen to Turkish Cypriot positions. I think Palestinian officials will also see the benefit of such a dialogue”.

Issue regarding the title of “Turkish Cypriot State”

Responding to criticisms that the title of “Turkish Cypriot State” is used in some of the meetings of international organizations rather than the title of “TRNC”:

“The TRNC is a Turkish Cypriot state, just like the Republic of Turkey is a Turkish state. I am not referring to the ethnic dimension. The TRNC is, of course, a Turkish Cypriot state. That is why, it is an important development that today we are represented under the title of “Turkish Cypriot Sate” in these institutions, which signifies a state formation, as well as the will of the Turkish Cypriot people, where we used to be represented for so many years as the Turkish Muslim Community of Cyprus. What matters to us is enabling the Turkish Cypriot people to be visible. To make the will of the Turkish Cypriot people visible. We need to make sure that everyone sees and listens to this. There is no need for anyone to be offended by this”

Özersay also added that it is to the benefit of the Turkish Cypriots to be represented in international platforms under the title of “Turkish Cypriot State”